Cephas Afeke
Montgomery Village
Summary
Ambitious postdoctoral research fellow seeking to deepen knowledge by completing independent research projects. Experienced in using advanced techniques and methods with an in-depth understanding of correct research procedures.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Visiting postdoctoral research fellow
NCATS (NIH)
Rockville
11.2021 - Current
- Conducted anti-breast cancer drug discovery research in collaboration with the Brent Stockwell group at Columbia University, activating an iron-dependent cell death pathway to advance treatment options for breast cancer.
- Performing drug discovery research to identify and develop a single dose therapy for malaria.
- Developed anti-fungal drugs targeting nosocomial multidrug-resistant candida infections to address an emerging global health threat.
- Conducted research on targeted drug delivery methods to improve therapeutic efficacy.
Graduate research & teaching fellow
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
08.2015 - 08.2021
- Taught Organic Chemistry I&II and General Chemistry I&II labs and recitations, fostering student understanding and engagement in core chemical principles.
- Conducted research on total synthesis and stimulus-responsive release of pederin analogue via self-immolative boryl carbonate linkers, aiming to enhance cancer immunotherapy by targeting breast cancer cells with cytotoxic prodrugs.
- Conducted and published organic chemistry research under mentorship of Prof. Dr. Paul E. Floreancig, focusing on Re(VII) oxide-catalyzed synthesis of spirocyclic ethers with potential applications in drug discovery.
Graduate research & teaching assistant
Youngstown State University
Youngstown
08.2013 - 07.2015
- Instructed sophomore organic chemistry labs and recitations for 4 semesters, enhancing student understanding of complex concepts.
- Conducted synthetic organic chemistry research under mentorship of Prof. Peter Norris, focusing on synthesis and application of carbonyl nitrenes for preparing oxazolidinones through thermal intramolecular nitrene insertion, contributing to advancements in organic synthesis methodologies.
- Assisted professors with lesson planning and classroom preparation.
- Graded assignments and provided feedback to students on their work.
- Facilitated study groups to enhance student understanding of course material.
Finance Associate
Nestlé Business Services
Accra
07.2012 - 08.2013
- Reconciled monthly general ledger accounts for Nestlé companies in Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Nigeria, Congo, and Mozambique.
- Analyzed financial reports to ensure compliance with internal policies.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to streamline budgeting processes.
- Prepared monthly reconciliations for various accounts and transactions.
Research Associate
Emos Consultancy Limited
Accra
10.2009 - 05.2012
- Supported team of eight principal consultants in executing government-sanctioned economic policy research and conducting corporate finance and recapitalization consulting for financial institutions and struggling companies in Ghana's energy and extractive mineral resources sector.
- Contributed to removal of subsidies on petroleum products, enabling government to allocate fiscal resources to socially important projects.
- Conducted comprehensive literature reviews to support project development and findings.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to design and implement research methodologies.
- Analyzed qualitative and quantitative data to derive actionable insights for clients.
Education
doctor of philosophy (PH. D) - organic chemistry
uniVERSITY. of pittSburgh
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA08-2021
master of science (m.s) - chemistry
youngstown state university
YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO08-2015
bachelor of science (b.sC) - chemistry
uniVERSITY. of Ghana
accra, ghana05-2009
Skills
- NMR Spectroscopy (1H, 13C, 19F, 31P, 11B, 2D-NMR)
- LC/GC-MS
- HPLC
- Chromatography
- Organic synthesis
- Molecule synthesis
- Purification
- Characterization
- Drug discovery
- FTIR
- Scientific writing
- Problem solving
- Effective communication
- Laboratory management
Professional Memberships
- National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE), 01/01/15, Present
- American Chemical Society (ACS), 01/01/21, Present
Conferences And Presentations
- Poster Presentation: Carbonyl Nitrenes in Oxazolidinone Synthesis, American Chemical Society (OH-PA) Miniconference, Westminster, PA, 01/01/14
- Poster Presentation: Advances in Rhenium Oxide Catalysis, NOBCChE Northeast-Midwest Spring Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, 01/01/16
- Poster Presentation: Rhenium Oxide in Spiroketal Synthesis, NOBCChE Annual National Conference, Minneapolis, MN, 01/01/17
- Poster Presentation: Rhenium oxide catalyzed synthesis of spirocyclic ethers, NOBCChE Annual National Conference, Orlando, FL, 01/01/18
Awards
- Department of Chemistry Excellence Award, 2015
- NOBCChE - Colgate Best Organic Chemistry Poster Award, Orlando, FL, 11/01/18
- NOBCChE Advancing Science Student Grant Recipient, 2017/2018
- NOBCChE Advancing Science Student Grant Recipient, 2018/2019
- NIH Intramural Research Training Award, 01/01/21, Present
References
- Professor Paul E. Floreancig, 1403 CHVRN, Chevron Science Center, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, 412-624-8727, florean@pitt.edu
- Dr. Wenwei Huang, 9800 Medical Center Dr., Rockville, MD, 20850, 301-827-7164, huangwe@nih.gov
Projects And Publications
- Re2O7-Catalyzed Approach to Spirocyclic Ether Formation, Organic Letters, 2019, 21, 13, 5064–5067
- Potent and Selective Oxidatively Labile Ether-Based Prodrugs through Late-Stage Boronate Incorporation, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2024, 63, e202409229
- One-pot, Three-step Synthesis of Alkylbenzo[h][1,6]naphthyridin-2(1H)-ones, Manuscript submitted, 2026
- Discovery and Development of Single-Dose Oral Anti-Malaria Drugs, Manuscript preparation in progress
- Synthesis of ADCK3 Inhibitors for Ferroptosis Induction in ADCK3-overexpressed Breast Cancer Cells, Manuscript preparation in progress
Leadership Experience
- Co-Chair, University of Pittsburgh Chapter: National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE), 01/01/18, 12/31/20
- Financial Secretary, African Students Union - Youngstown State University, 01/01/14, 12/31/15
- Deputy Financial Secretary, Ghana Students Chemical Society (Legon Chapter), 01/01/08, 12/31/09
Timeline
Visiting postdoctoral research fellow
NCATS (NIH)
11.2021 - Current
Graduate research & teaching fellow
University of Pittsburgh
08.2015 - 08.2021
Graduate research & teaching assistant
Youngstown State University
08.2013 - 07.2015
Finance Associate
Nestlé Business Services
07.2012 - 08.2013
Research Associate
Emos Consultancy Limited
10.2009 - 05.2012
doctor of philosophy (PH. D) - organic chemistry
uniVERSITY. of pittSburgh
master of science (m.s) - chemistry
youngstown state university
bachelor of science (b.sC) - chemistry
uniVERSITY. of Ghana